Lightning surge protector

Abstract

A lightning surge protector, comprises a current limiting element in a pressure-proof housing. The pressure-proof housing is composed of a conductive material and coupled with an upper electrode member. Also, a self arc-extinguishing LSP comprises a current limiting element and upper and lower electrode members housed and fixed in a conductive pressure-proof housing opened at its lower portion through a suspension structure composed of a suspension rod. The outside and inside of the housing are covered and filled with an insulator, so that, upon occurrence of an internal arc due to a short-circuit fault or the like, the energy due to the arc causes the lower electrode member to break the insulator in the vicinity of an opening portion of the conductive pressure-proof housing so as to electrically connect the conductive pressure-proof housing to a part of the lower electrode member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A Lightning Surge Protector for protecting equipment from a lightning surge, comprising: a voltage-current non-linear resistor element;   an upper electrode member;   a lower electrode member; and   a cylindrical pressure-proof housing coupled to said upper electrode member and being composed of a conductive material for accommodating said resistor element and said upper and lower electrode members, said pressure-proof housing having an outer wall surface covered with an organic insulator and an interior space filled with said organic insulator.   
     
     
       2. A lightning surge protector for protecting equipment from a lightning surge, comprising: a voltage-current non-linear resistor element for limiting a current caused by said lightning surge; and   a conductive pressure-proof housing for accommodating said resistor element and a lower electrode member, said housing having an outer wall surface covered with an organic insulator and an interior space filled with said organic insulator, wherein said conductive pressure-proof housing comprises: an upper end connected to an upper electrode member; and   a lower partially opened end.     
     
     
       3. A lightning surge protector for protecting equipment from a lightning surge, comprising: a voltage-current non-linear resistor element for limiting a current caused by said lightning surge; and   a conductive pressure-proof housing for accommodating said resistor element and a lower electrode member, said housing having an outer wall surface covered with an organic insulator and an interior space filed with said organic insulator,   wherein said conductive pressure-proof housing comprises an upper end connected to an upper electrode member, and a lower partially opened end,   wherein said upper electrode member comprises: an upper electrode plate;   a spring; and   an upper electrode, said upper electrode plate being disposed between said upper electrode and said voltage-current non-linear resistor element; and     wherein said lower electrode member comprises: a lower electrode plate; and   a lower electrode having a lower rod portion which penetrates and projects outside said lower opening of said conductive pressure-proof housing.     
     
     
       4. A self arc-extinguishing lightning surge protector for protecting equipment from a lightning surge, comprising: a non-linear resistive current limiting element for limiting a current caused by a lightning surge; and   a conductive pressure-proof housing for accommodating said voltage-current non-linear resistor element comprising: an upper electrode member;   a lower electrode member;   a lower end of the housing having a partial opening portion;   an outer insulating element covering an exterior wall surface of said housing; and   an outer insulating element filling an interior space of said housing to insulate the housing from the resistor element;   such that when an internal arc occurs, the energy from the lightning causes the lower electrode member to break said insulator at the opening portion of said conductive pressure-proof housing so as to electrically connect said conductive pressure-proof housing to a part of said lower electrode member.     
     
     
       5. A self arc-extinguishing lightning surge protector for protecting equipment from a lightning surge, comprising: a non-linear resistive current limiting element for limiting a current caused by said lightning surge; and   a conductive pressure-proof housing for accommodating said non-linear resistive current limiting element comprising: an upper electrode member;   a lower electrode member;   a lower end of the housing having a partial opening portion;   an outer insulating element covering an exterior wall surface of said housing; and   an inner insulating element filling an interior space of said housing to insulate said housing from said resistor element;   such that when an internal arc occurs, the energy from said lightning causes said lower electrode member to break said insulator at said opening portion of said conductive pressure-proof housing so as to electrically connect said conductive pressure-proof housing to a part of said lower electrode member,   wherein said lower electrode member has a blade portion and a projecting portion for breaking said insulator so as to electrically connect said conductive pressure-proof housing to said lower electrode member.     
     
     
       6. A self arc-extinguishing lightning surge protector for protecting equipment from a lightning surge, comprising: a non-linear resistive current limiting element for limiting a current caused by said lightning surge; and   a conductive pressure-proof housing for accommodating said voltage-current non-linear resistor element comprising: an upper electrode member;   a lower electrode member;   a lower end of said housing having a partial opening portion;   an outer insulating element covering an exterior wall surface of said housing; and   an inner insulating element filling an interior space of said housing to insulate said housing from said resistor element;   such that when an internal arc occurs, the energy from said lightning causes said lower electrode member to break said insulator at said opening portion of said conductive pressure-proof housing so as to electrically connect said conductive pressure-proof housing to a part of said lower electrode member,   wherein said conductive pressure-proof housing has a blade portion and a projecting portion for breaking said insulator so as to electrically connect said conductive pressure-proof housing to said lower electrode member.     
     
     
       7. A self arc-extinguishing lightning surge protector according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said blade and said projecting portion are covered with a metal cover or a conductive member having a curved surface. 
     
     
       8. A self arc-extinguishing arrester for protecting equipment from a lightning surge comprising: a non-linear resistive current limiting element for limiting a current caused by said lightning surge; and   a conductive pressure-proof housing for accommodating said non-linear resistive current limiting element comprising: an upper electrode member;   a lower electrode member;   a lower end of said housing having a partial opening portion;   an outer insulating element covering an exterior wall surface of said housing; and   an inner insulating element filling an interior space of said housing to insulate said housing from said resistor element;   such that when an internal arc occurs, the energy from said lightning causes said lower electrode member to break said insulator at said opening portion of said conductive pressure-proof housing so as to electrically connect said conductive pressure-proof housing to a part of said lower electrode member,   wherein said lower electrode member has a rod-like portion comprising: a covered portion covered with said insulator element and being painted to be brightly visible; and   a projecting portion projecting outside said housing, such that it is possible to visually distinguish a displacement of said lower electrode member.